We continue this week in our new series on The Discipline of Possessions with the first lesson . . .
The first lesson is that things are given by God.
“Make no mistake, my friends. All good giving, every perfect gift, comes from above, from the Father of the lights of heaven.”
I often see, shining in the deep blue of the sky just before dawn, the morning star. At twilight the sea sometimes reflects the pale rose and daffodil colors of the sunset. At night I awaken to find the room flooded with moonlight reflected from the sea, from the glass top of my desk by the window, and from the mirror of the dressing table. Flying at thirty thousand feet, I have seen glorious light shining on the towers and castles of thunderheads. What a gift are these lights of heaven! The same Father who gives them also gives us all other good and perfect things.
It is God’s nature to give. He can no more “help” giving than He can “help” loving. We can absolutely count on it that He will give us everything in the world that is good for us, that is, everything that can possibly help us to be and do what He wants. How can He not do this?
“He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all; and with this gift how can he fail to lavish upon us all he has to give?”
The second lesson is that things are given us to be received with thanksgiving. . . continued next week!
**Excerpt originally published in Discipline, the Glad Surrender, p 107